How can cities cope with these challenges while providing their inhabitants with a high quality of life? One possible answer is to become more “smart.” But what does it mean to be a smart city? And how can it help cities fight against climate change?
A smart city is a city that uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other means to improve the efficiency, sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience of urban services and environments. A smart city leverages digitalization to boost citizen well-being and deliver more value for less resources. A smart city also involves a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process that engages citizens, businesses, governments, civil society, and academia in co-creating solutions for urban challenges.
The main goal of this article is to explore how technology can help cities adapt to a changing climate by mitigating its causes and effects. We will examine how smart cities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance the energy efficiency, promote the circular economy, increase resilience, cope with extreme weather events, and improve health and well-being. We will also provide some examples of smart city projects worldwide that demonstrate their potential.
How Smart Cities Can Mitigate Climate Change
One of the ways that technology can help cities adapt to climate change is by reducing their contribution to it. Smart cities can use various technologies to lower their carbon footprint and transition to a low-carbon economy. Here are some examples:
Renewable energy: Smart cities can use renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, or biomass to power their electricity needs. Renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and increase energy security. For example, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is building the world’s largest solar power plant, providing enough electricity for 90,000 people and saving 2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Electrified transport: Smart cities can use electric vehicles, buses, trains, or bikes to reduce emissions from transportation. Electrified carriers can also lower operating costs, noise, and air pollution. For example, Santiago de Chile, the capital of Chile, has bought 455 electric buses and plans to raise this to nearly 800 by the end of 2020. Electric buses are cheaper to run, more comfortable, and less noisy than diesel buses.
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Smart buildings: Smart cities can use smart technologies to make buildings more energy-efficient and comfortable. Smart buildings can use sensors, controllers, actuators, and software to monitor and optimize temperature, lighting, ventilation, air quality, and security. Smart buildings can also use smart materials, such as phase change materials or electrochromic glass, to adapt to environmental conditions and reduce energy consumption. For example, the Edge building in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is considered one of the smartest and greenest buildings in the world. It uses solar panels, LED lighting, natural ventilation, and a smart app to achieve a 70% reduction in energy use compared to conventional buildings.
Waste management: Smart cities can use smart technologies to manage waste more efficiently and sustainably. Smart waste management can use sensors, RFID tags, GPS trackers, and software to monitor and optimize waste collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal. Smart waste management can also use biogas or waste-to-energy plants to convert organic waste into renewable energy or heat. For example, Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has implemented a smart waste management system that uses RFID tags to charge residents based on the amount of waste they produce. The system has reduced waste generation by 10% and increased recycling rates by 30%.
How Smart Cities Can Adapt to Climate Change
Another way that technology can help cities adapt to climate change is by increasing their capacity to cope with its impacts. Smart cities can use various technologies to enhance their resilience and preparedness for climate-related hazards and stresses. Here are some examples:
Smart sensors: Smart cities can use smart sensors to collect real-time data on environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, air quality, or water level. Smart sensors can help cities monitor and forecast climate risks and provide early warning systems for disasters. For example, Singapore, a city-state in Southeast Asia, has deployed a network of smart sensors called Smart Nation Sensor Platform (SNSP) that collects data on traffic flow, crowd density, noise level, and weather conditions. The SNSP helps Singapore manage its urban operations and respond to emergencies more effectively.
Smart networks: Smart cities can use smart grids to connect devices, systems, and people through wireless or wired communication technologies. Smart grids can help cities share information and coordinate actions across different sectors and stakeholders. Smart grids can also help cities recover from disruptions and restore essential services quickly. For example, Barcelona, a city in Spain, has developed a smart network called CityOS that integrates data from various sources such as sensors, cameras, mobile phones, and social media. The CityOS helps Barcelona improve its urban planning and management and provide better services to citizens.
Smart analytics: Smart cities can use smart analytics to process and analyze large amounts of data from various sources using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data, or cloud computing technologies. Smart analytics can help cities generate insights and solutions for complex urban problems and optimize decision-making processes. Smart analytics can also help cities learn from past experiences and improve performance. For example, New York City, a city in the United States of America (USA), has established a smart analytics unit called the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics (MODA) that uses data science techniques to solve urban challenges such as fire prevention, building inspection, or traffic safety.
Smart governance: Smart cities can use the smart command to involve citizens, businesses, governments, civil society, and academia in co-creating solutions for urban challenges using digital platforms or tools. Smart management can help cities foster participation, collaboration, transparency, and accountability in urban policies and actions. Smart governance can also help cities adapt to changing needs and preferences of citizens and stakeholders. For example, Copenhagen, a city in Denmark, has launched a smart governance initiative called Copenhagen Solutions Lab (CSL) that uses digital platforms such as apps, websites, or social media to engage citizens in urban innovation projects such as smart parking, smart lighting, or smart mobility.
Examples of Smart City Projects Around the World
To illustrate how technology can help cities adapt to climate change, some examples of smart city projects worldwide demonstrate their potential.
This article explored how technology can help cities adapt to climate change by mitigating its causes and effects. We have seen how smart cities can use various technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, promote the circular economy, increase resilience, cope with extreme weather events, and improve health and well-being. We have also provided examples of worldwide smart city projects demonstrating their potential.
However, more than technology is needed to make cities smart and climate-smart. Technology must be accompanied by a holistic and integrated approach considering urban development’s social, economic, and environmental aspects. Technology must also be guided by a vision and a strategy that aligns with the city’s and its citizens’ goals and values.
Therefore, building smart cities for climate change requires innovation and collaboration among stakeholders, such as governments, businesses, civil society, and academia. It also involves the participation and empowerment of citizens, who are smart city solutions’ ultimate users and beneficiaries.
By working together, we can create smart cities that are efficient and sustainable but also inclusive and resilient. We can prepare smart cities for climate change and contribute to fighting it. We can create smart cities that are not only livable but also lovable.
FAQs
What are the main drivers of smart city development?
Some of the main drivers of smart city development are:
Rapid urbanization and population growth create challenges such as congestion, pollution, poverty, and inequality.
The increasing demand for better services and quality of life from citizens and businesses
The rising awareness and concern about climate change and its impacts on cities
The availability and affordability of new technologies that enable smarter solutions for urban problems
The opportunities and benefits of digitalization and innovation for urban competitiveness and attractiveness
What are the main barriers to smart city implementation?
Some of the main barriers to smart city implementation are:
The lack of clear vision and strategy for smart city development
The fragmentation and silos among different sectors and stakeholders
The complexity and diversity of urban challenges and contexts
The difficulty in measuring and evaluating the impacts and outcomes of smart city solutions
The ethical and social issues related to data privacy, security, ownership, and governance
The financial constraints and risks involved in investing in smart city projects
What are the best practices for designing and managing smart cities?
Some of the best practices for designing and managing smart cities are:
Adopting a user-centric and human-centric approach that puts citizens at the center of smart city solutions
Applying a systems thinking and holistic approach that considers the interconnections and interdependencies among different urban elements
Leveraging a data-driven and evidence-based approach that uses data analytics and digital tools to support decision-making processes
Fostering a co-creation and co-innovation approach that involves multiple stakeholders in developing and implementing smart city solutions
Promoting a learning-by-doing approach that allows experimentation, adaptation, and improvement of smart city solutions
What are the ethical and social implications of smart city technologies?
Some of the ethical and social implications of smart city technologies are:
The potential for data misuse or abuse that may compromise data privacy, security, or ownership
The possibility of a digital divide or exclusion that may widen inequalities or discrimination among different groups or individuals
The risk of technology dependency or addiction that may reduce human agency or autonomy
The challenge of technology literacy or awareness that may limit the understanding or acceptance of smart city technologies
The need for technology regulation or governance that may balance the rights and responsibilities of different actors
How can citizens participate in and benefit from smart city initiatives?
Some of the ways that citizens can participate in and benefit from smart city initiatives are:
Providing feedback and input on their needs, preferences, and expectations for smart city solutions
Engaging in co-design and co-delivery of smart city solutions through digital platforms or tools
Accessing and using smart city services and facilities that improve their convenience, comfort, and well-being
Benefiting from smart city outcomes and impacts that enhance their safety, health, education, and social inclusion
Contributing to smart city goals and values that support their sustainability, resilience, and citizenship